Last Saturday, Hagamos Composta picked up our filled bins and left these. Are our compost gals making a statement?
The librarian/archivist in me compels me to share a link to Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online. Proud of my profession.
Archive for the ‘Gardens’ Category
Making a statement?
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Culture, Environment, Gardens, Politics, tagged compost bins, composting, Hagamos Composta, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, recycling, Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online, Solidarity with Ukraine on March 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Still lifes before the fiesta
Posted in Culture, Food, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged corn, courtyard, light and shadows, maiz, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Teotitlán del Valle on January 28, 2022| 4 Comments »
I’m home in Barrio de Jalatlaco — rested, recovered, and caught-up — after a three-day fiesta at the home of my compadres in Teotitlán del Valle. Tranquil before photos…
Three days of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with 20 to 160 family members and compadres, formal presentations, and a ritual ceremony — all to acknowledge and celebrate the promise of marriage between the youngest daughter and her intended. More from the celebrations to come.
Day in the country, part 4
Posted in Animals, Beverages, Culture, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged agave, cempasúchitl, cockscomb, flowers, grasshoppers, José Alberto Pablo, marigolds, Mexico, mezcal, mezcal palenque, Oaxaca, popular travel destinations, rusty mezcal, San Bernardo Mixtepec on November 11, 2021| 6 Comments »
Our Day in the country’s final destination was San Bernardo Mixtepec. The scenery was spectacular as we drove south from Zimatlán de Álvarez, through the valley, and northeast up into the mountains. It was mid October, nearing Día de Muertos and in the valley there were fields filled with cempasúchitl (marigolds) and cresta de gallo (cockscomb) waiting to be picked for altars. In the meantime, they were being enjoyed by a local grasshopper.
Navigating the narrow, winding, and steep roads, we eventually arrived at the palenque and family home of José Alberto Pablo and his father Mario. Perched on the side of a mountain, it offers stunning views.
Fermentation is done in clay pots in a specially built room, and clay pots are used for distillation. In an eco-friendly feature, he recirculates the condenser water rather than letting it drain into a stream.
At some point in the history of San Bernardo Mixtepc, a persuasive vendor must have introduced the palenqueros to enameled metal condensers. Over time they rust and deposit a small amount of rust into the mezcal — giving it a distinctive yellow-orange color. According to José Alberto, the villagers have become so accustomed to the color, they are reluctant to drink clear mezcal.
Yes, we bought! I came away with a lovely rusty tobalá. By the way, they also use stainless and copper condensers to make clear rust-less mezcal — for the less adventurous and to satisfy the mezcal regulatory board.
Day in the country, part 3
Posted in Animals, Beverages, Culture, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged agave plantllets, altars, cattle, Day in the country, flowers, goats, Mexican sunflower, Mexico, mezcal, Oaxaca, palenques, photos, popular travel destinations, Tío René, Tithonia diveversifolia, tools, Zimatlán de Álvarez on October 24, 2021| 2 Comments »
Flora and fauna and mezcal, oh my! That pretty much sums up the next stop on my day in the country adventure with friends. After leaving Villa de Zaachila, we headed south to Zimatlán de Álvarez and the working farm and palenque of René Parada Barriga (sold under label, Tío René). René was at a meeting, so his son Moisés capably took over the palenque’s touring and teaching duties.
We came prepared, bringing our own plastic bottles and René’s wife Sophia poured and sold. I bought a lovely copper distilled Cuish and, once home, transferred it into one of my many empty glass bottles — saved for days such as this. Our next (and last) stop was another palenque. Stay tuned!
A Pachypodium blooms
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged achypodium lamerei, Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) challenge, Madagascar Palm, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, rooftop garden, white flowers on October 12, 2021| 12 Comments »
After a twelve year wait, my Pachypodium lamerei has bloomed! Though not a palm, you may know it as a Madagascar Palm.
First thing every morning, while the coffee is brewing, I go up on the rooftop to wish my plants a “buenos días” and check to see if the water heater pilot is still lit — but I digress.
Two and a half weeks ago my Pachypodium lamerei surprised me with its first ever flower.
And the blooms keep coming. I think it likes its new home!
Rainy season skies
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Barrio de Jalatlaco, clouds, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, rainy season, terrace garden, terrace views, trees on August 25, 2021| 6 Comments »
With storms to the north and storms to the south, Oaxaca is stuck in the middle. And the rain keeps falling. Sometimes, the sun peeks through the clouds…
And, sometimes it doesn’t…
Sometimes it rains in the late afternoon, sometimes at night, and sometimes (like today) the rains come on and off throughout the day. ‘Tis the season.
Cereusly busy bee
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged bees, flowers, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, night blooming flowers, Oaxaca, pollination, rooftop garden, video on July 26, 2021| 2 Comments »
This morning: Four Night Blooming Cereus flowers and one seriously busy bee!
Life in the rooftop garden.
Garden gets its groove back
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Creativity, Flora, Gardens, tagged atrium, container garden, flowers, landscaping a rooftop, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, plants, rooftop garden, succulents, terrace garden, trees on July 23, 2021| 14 Comments »
When last we left Casita Colibrí’s garden, it had weathered Moving days and the plants were Surviving and thriving wherever they had landed at their new home.
Much to the movers’ relief, some (though, not a lot!) of the plants were to remain on the ground floor. With those, it was within my artistic ability to create an entryway and to arrange the palms and other shade-loving plants in my new apartment’s atrium.
However, the landscaping on the rooftop, where the majority of the plants landed, was left to the imagination — as I had neither the strength nor the skill. Consequently, two and a half weeks ago, under a blazing hot and unrelenting sun, my friend and excellent landscaper Jose Ruiz Garcia and his nephew came over to move, position, and re-position trees and succulents and shrubs — oh my!
Most mornings it’s now where I begin my day. With coffee in hand, I cautiously wend my way up the narrow spiral staircase to commune with my plants, listen to the birds sing and chatter, and enjoy this beautiful and tranquil garden that Jose has created. It’s also a perfect setting to sip a glass of wine as the sun sets.
The Move: surviving and thriving
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged Buddha belly plant, Casita Colibrí, Cayenne pepper plant, Flor de mayo, flowers, frangipani, Jasmine flowers, Jatropha podagrica, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Oaxaca, photos, rooftop garden on July 3, 2021| 14 Comments »
Many of my View From Casita Colibrí regular readers have expressed concern regarding how the garden survived the move. I want to assure you, though it desperately needs landscaping, the plants are surviving and thriving in their new home.
Methinks it is, in no small part, due to our daily late afternoon downpours. It is the rainiest rainy season since 2010 — at least that I can remember!
Moving days
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Home, Transportation, tagged furniture piled high, garden pots, Mexico, moving boxes, moving day, moving truck, Oaxaca, photos, plants, trees, working for a living on June 29, 2021| 13 Comments »
Yes, that is moving days, plural! However, neither rain nor breakdowns nor dark of night kept Casita Colibrí (the name moved, too) from moving twelve years of furniture, art and artesanía, kitchenware, clothing, books, and massive container garden to its new home.
Day one began at 4:00 PM and consisted of four trips and a little rain to move from the old casita to the new — hauling furniture, boxes, and some of the smaller plants. Some of it was carried down the dicey stairs and some went over the balcony. Needless to say, the crew of five, plus yours truly, were worn out when we called it quits at 10:00 PM.
With all the furniture ensconced in its new home, the task of day two (postponed a few days due to mechanical issues with the truck) was to move the trees, their ginormous pots, the chimenea, and worm-rich barrels of soil that I have been cultivating for several years. It wound up taking two trips and almost four hours to lower the plants, etc. from one rooftop and then hoist them up to another. Oh, and did I mention, having to detour several blocks due to an accident? Another day of sheer exhaustion!
However, when all is said and done, everything arrived safe and sound, save for one cracked pot. Of course, that doesn’t count the sore backs and the revenge of cactus thorns. Willie Delfín and his crew were amazing.
Now the decorating and landscaping fun begins!
Here and there critters
Posted in Animals, Gardens, Neighborhoods, Travel & Tourism, tagged Barrio de Xochimilco, chipmunk, cute animal photos, Mexico, New York state, Oaxaca, photos, squirrel on May 23, 2021| 2 Comments »
My trip to el norte is drawing to a close and tomorrow morning, before the sun rises, my day-long journey back to Oaxaca begins. After being away for 5-1/2 weeks, I wonder what changes I will see. In the meantime, a couple of cute animal photos from here and there…
Now that I am fully vaccinated, I’m looking forward to venturing out and about a lot more and hopefully having more fodder for the blog!
Here and there May flowers
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged camellias, Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) challenge, Flor de mayo, flowers, frangipani, gardens, May Flower, Mexico, Mill Valley, Oaxaca, photos, plumeria on May 5, 2021| 4 Comments »
Flowers of May there and here…
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Posted in Creativity, Environment, Flora, Gardens, tagged container garden, lavatory, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, plants, popular travel destinations, recycling, sidewalk scenes, toilets on April 14, 2021| 3 Comments »
Container gardening, Oaxaca style.
I chuckle every time I pass by this planter on the sidewalk of Calle Heroico Colegio Militar in Colonia Reforma.
A new day
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Music, tagged balcony garden, flowers, Mexico, Night Blooming Cereus, Nina Simone, Oaxaca, photos, song lyrics Feeling Good on March 31, 2021| 4 Comments »
Yesterday morning a new day dawned and my first night blooming cereus flower of the season greeted me.
Today marks 21 days since my first Pfizer vaccine, yet the date, time, and place of my second vaccination is still unknown. However, during these challenging times, I’m channeling Nina Simone singing, Feeling Good.
Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by you know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree you know how I feel
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
Cactus down!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged cactus, container garden, Euphorbia Trigona, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, terrace garden on March 27, 2021| 2 Comments »
It’s the time of year when late afternoon winds come up, landing patterns change to often bring planes very low over the city, and the occasional top heavy plant topples over.
Tuesday morning I came out on the terrace to find my Euphorbia Trigona down. Prone, though it was, neither it nor its beautiful old maceta (flowerpot) suffered any damage. Both are now safely cradled in a wrought iron plant stand.
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